Embroidery hoop or ring.



PATENTED APR. 26, 1904.

W. .N. HOWDEN. EMBROIDERY HOOP OR RING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1903. I

N0 MODEL.

- UNITED STATES Patented April 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. HOWDEN, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE F. CUTTER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

EMBROIDERY HOOP OR RING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 58,535, dated April 26, 1904. Application filed September 12, 1903. Serial No. 173,002. (No model.)

To all whom it warty concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. HowDEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Embroidery Hoops or Rings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in embroidery hoops or rings, my object being to provide a novel construction of hoop or ring adapted to hold the fabric securely in place and at the same time permit its adjustment without injury to the fabric; and to this end the invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a pair of rings, one of which is shown partly in section to illustrate my improvement, the embroidery fabric being partly broken away on one side. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. r Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the outer surface of the inner ring provided with my improvement. Fig. 4: is a sectional view in detail of the inner ring. Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the packing-cord in place.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the outer ring or hoop, which is of ordinary construction. The inner ring6 is provided with my improvement. In the outer surface of this ring is formed arecess 7 extending entirely around the same. The upper part a ofthis recess is curved to fit a cord 8 circular in cross-section. The upper part of the ring at the termination of the curve a on the outside is quite sharp, as shownat b, to catch the cord and prevent it from turning or moving in response to an upward pull on the fabric 9. The lower wall of the recess is beveled or inclined downwardly, leaving a space 0 below the cord, which space permits the cord to turn in response to a downward pull on the fabric for the purpose of tightening the latter after the manner of adr'umhead.

The cord 8 may be elastic or not, as may be desired. By reason of the elastic feature it is easily applied to and removed from the hoop. This cord is of a size to normally protrude from the recess of the inner hoop.

In using the device the fabric 9 is stretched over the hoop 6 and allowed to hang down on the outside. (See Fig. 2.) The outer hoop 5 is then applied, after which the fabric is pulled down between the hoops or rings until it is stretched as tightly over the ring 6 as desired. My improvement is especially advantageous during the stretching operation, as it allows the fabric to be readily pulled down, but resistsits upward movement. As the fabric is pulled down the cord moves slightly away from the upper curved wall of the recess by reason of the space 0 below and then turns in the recess, thus facilitating the movement of the fabric during the downward pull. As soon as this pull ceases the cord moves back into place, but the fabric is held tightly in the adjusted position against the reverse or upward movement, since the cord is caught by the edge 6 and prevented from turning in the recess in response to an upward pull or strain. Hence the upward movement of the fabric is resisted by the friction between the fabric and the cord. It is therefore evident that the advantage of my improvement is that it permits the fabric to move freely when pulled downwardly or in the direction to tighten it, but holds it tightly against the reverse movement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. An embroidery -holder comprising an outer hoop or ring and an inner hoop or ring,

the latter having a recess formed in its outer wall, and a cord movable in said recess and of a size to project normally beyond the same, the upper part of the recess being curved to fit the cord, and its lower part being elongated to leave a space below the cord when the parts are assembled.

2. An embroideryholder comprising an outer hoop or ring, an inner cooperating hoop or ring having a recess in its outer wall, and a cord movable in said recess, the upper part of the recess being curved to lit the cord which normally protrudes beyond the recess, the outer part of the ring above the cord and adjacent the recess having a downwardly-projecting edge adapted to engage the cord and prevent it from moving in response to an upward pull.

3. An embroidery-holder comprising outer and inner cooperating hoops or rings, the inner member having a recess in its outer wall, and a cord movable therein, the upper part of the recess being curved to fit the cord and its lower part being shaped to leave a space below the cord, whereby the latter is allowed to move in response to a downward pull, the size of the cord being such as to allow it to normally protrude beyond the recess before the outer cooperating hoop is applied, the outer part of the ring above the cord and adjacent the recess having a downwardly-projecting part adapted to engage the cord and prevent it liirom moving in response to an upward pu In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM N. HOVVDEN.

Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN. 

